A Wigan 14-year-old with a severe mysterious illness causing constant vomiting and head pain needs your help

A Wigan boy is in need of private treatment to finally understand and treat a mysterious illness that has been causing distressing symptoms over the past two and a half years.

James Fitzgerald, 14, has been suffering from episodes since March 2024 (aged 12) which have left him with severe head pain, persistent vomiting and feeling lethargic with long recovery periods, causing him to be taken out of school.

James has also frequently experienced fainting spells, heart pauses and intense deja vu alongside a long list of other symptoms.

His mum Neisha said: “He’s had 39 episodes and because of the sickness and extreme pain, James has developed an eating disorder called ARFID, so now he completely limits what he eats and his chest has caved in.”

“I was buying sick bowls off Amazon because it was that bad, and it’s still bad now.”

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a clinical eating and feeding condition where a person limits the amount or variety of food they eat. Unlike anorexia or bulimia, this restriction has nothing to do with body weight, size, or shape.

The pain has often become so severe for James that he has had to have morphine.

Neisha said: “It’s ridiculous. If a child needs morphine there’s something very wrong.”

Due to feeling as though James’s needs have not been met and that there has been a series of failures from Wigan and Leigh Hospital in regard to test waiting times, general care and not feeling listened to, Neisha is now seeking private treatment for James to get the diagnosis and treatment he requires.

Neisha said: “It’s not good enough after two and a half years. James can’t live a normal life and he’s not lived a normal life. He doesn’t go out with his friends, he doesn’t go to school and he has to be supervised because of the fainting episodes.

“I can’t get a job because James needs constant care. I’ve got absolutely no family at all in Wigan to help and support me.”

James has now received a referral to be treated privately at Spire Hospital in Manchester, but this comes at a price with the consultation alone at £240.

As a result, Neisha has had to set up a GoFundMe to help get James treatment.

Neisha said: “I was conflicted doing it, but I’ve hit a wall and I need something to change.”

In a response, Sanjay Arya, Chief Medical Officer at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said:

"We understand the concerns raised by James's family and recognise how important it is that children and their families feel supported, informed and involved throughout their care.

“We welcome the opportunity to speak with James's family directly to better understand their concerns and discuss any additional support they may need.

“As this relates to an individual child's care, we are unable to comment publicly on the specific treatment and care plans.

“We are committed to providing safe, compassionate care and to support children and their families throughout their time with us."

To donate to James’s fundraiser, head to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-little-james-mdq68